The UK is one of the least racist countries in the world, according to a new worldwide survey.
New research by the Policy Institute at King’s College London found that just two per cent of Britons feel uncomfortable about the idea of living next door to somebody of a different race.
Experts behind the study explain that asking whether someone would be happy living next to someone of a different race is one of the traditional ways that researchers measure racism.
The data also shows that Britons are among the highest-ranking for tolerance of gay people and immigrants.
The UK is one of the least racist countries in the world, according to a new worldwide survey
PA
The analysis which forms part of the World Values Survey (WVS) compared 24 countries to judge global standards of trust and “acceptance of the people who live alongside us”.
According to the data, the percentage of Britons uncomfortable about living next door to somebody of a different ethnic background has decreased by eight per cent from 10 per cent in 1981 to two per cent today.
Now only Brazil and Sweden score lower with just one per cent, which are essentially tied within the margin of error.
Other European countries such as Italy and Spain scored noticeably higher with 12 per cent and 13 per cent.
While the least tolerant country in the continent is Greece, where almost a quarter - 24 per cent - of respondents would not want a neighbour of a different race.
Since 1981, the United States has only reduced by five percentage points and Australia by two.
In the last 40 years, Canada’s tolerance has actually increased, with a present-day figure of four per cent.
The overall acceptance of religious minorities is even more tolerable with just one per cent of Britons would not want to live next door to someone of a different faith.
It comes after a UN working group claimed that ethnic minorities in Britain are “living in fear” as a result of systemic racism, and just two weeks after a separate report said that the UK is “not close to being a racially just society”.
Political activist Yosef David said claims about systemic racism in Britain is 'laughable'
GB News
Speaking on GB News, political activist Yosef David said: "What this shows is we in Great Britain have built a pluralist, multi-racial nation to be proud of.
"I think this study is a welcome reading and is very much in line with the experiences I've had as a member of a minority community and it's the fact that race tends not to come into it for most people."
In response to the UN working group claims, he added: "I do think we need to differentiate between systemic racism and racist opinions which are held by individuals. I think it's fairly obvious that we live in a country where both members of the public and those within institutions will do anything to not be seen as racist, they will do anything to be inclusive.
"I think claims of systemic racism are quite laughable whereas we need to be aware of the fact that racism does exist within communities in the country, we can't be naive to it.
"I wouldn't say people aren't living in fear, they are more vigilant."